Kenya: Thugs Hack Gatundu Police Officer to Death

A Gatundu-based police officer was yesterday found hacked to death only a stone's throw away from his station.A body of a police officer was yesterday found hacked to death only a stone throw from his station. The officer identified as Paul Mariamba was escorting two ladies said to be local bar maids at 1am yesterday when he was attacked by armed thugs. The cop attached at the crime section was severally slashed with sharp objects in the head that killed him instantly. The attack came as the women were getting into their plot.

On seeing the thugs descending on the police officer one of the woman rushed back to the police station while screaming for help as her colleague locked herself inside the plot. Police officers responded swiftly and arrested two suspects who are assisting with investigations. Confirming the incident, local OCPD Peter Katam said the body of his officer had been removed to Gatundu district hospital mortuary. He said thorough investigation had been launched.

Reacting to the news of the police officer's death, a local church pastor wondered why security had been allowed to reach this far. "If thugs can go outside a police station and kill an officer in cold blood, what is the fate of the ordinary Mwananchi," posed the clergy. The scene is a crime hot spot. Several people have been attacked, robbed and maimed by organized gangs who are known by police. The criminals hide in the town's Githurai estate where trade of illicit brew and narcotic is a way of life.

Last month, armed thugs raided 8 centres in one night leaving the locals wondering whether criminals had over powered police and taken over the region. In august, Gatundu town residents and business community took to the streets protesting insecurity in the area. They were angered by the attack of 5 people by a local organized gang. The then OCPD Wellington Choka, OCS Bernard Ocholla and five cops were immediately transferred after central PC Japheth .K. Rugut visited the area.

AllAfrica publishes around 2,000 reports a day from more than 130 news organizations and over 200 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Related

Follow AllAfrica

AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 2000 news and information items daily from over 130 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Lagos, Monrovia, Nairobi and Washington DC.